Electrochemical Dicarboxylation of Non-Activated Olefins with CO2

Abstract Dicarboxylation reactions of olefins using CO2 as a synthon are highly desirable transformations. We present a novel approach to this pathway using non-activated olefins. This method features a simple, undivided galvanostatic setup and relies on carbonaceous cathode materials with a high surface area. Under these conditions, valuable diacids can be generated from simple non-activated olefins in up to 50% yield for a variety of substrates. Furthermore, the reaction can be performed at high substrate concentrations with productivities of up to 0.69 mmol/h. A reaction mechanism involving surface bound CO2 radical anions is proposed and aligns with experimental observations.